Statues Without Shadows : A Daughter's Search for the Truth About the Parents She Never Knew

by Anna Swan

Anna grew up accepting that her parents were glamorous but mysterious figures, who had both died by the time she was seven. It was only when she was in her thirties that she discovered they had both committed suicide. As she began to search for the truth about her parents, she uncovered details about their fascinating and incredibly divergent her father's family can trace their ancestry to King James II. Her mother came from a Welsh mining family. They met in 1950s literary London and fell in love. But a year after Anna was born, her mother was dead. The book explores the nature of loss, exile, betrayal and Anna's own deep-rooted instinct to refuse the horrors of her past and transcend the legacy of her parents. This is a compelling, moving story of uncovering the past in order to reclaim the future.

Hardcover

First published May 8, 2006

Reviews

[Ali · Rating 1 out of 5]

usually enjoy family memoirs, and when I started this book, I did think I would find it more intresting than I did. At times the story of Anna Swann parents and the truth about their shortened lives and tragic deaths did hold my attention, and interest me enough to read the whole book. However I was often left cold, by the writing, and by the emerging personalities of Michael and Joan Swan. I didn't really develop any feeling for them through Anna Swann's memoir. I was more interested in aspects of Anna's own childhood and early life, which was skated over a bit, and never fully developed. Toward the end of the book - we are given a glimpse of a therepy session - which I found nauseating - and unnecessary. Obviously Anna has spent a long time coming to terms with what had happened to her parents and while this was important for her I am not sure the readers of this book needed to hear it, surly it would have been better to remain private.

[NadiaN99 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This lady had so much to say
Her story was such an interesting one ,i couldnt convince myself to put the book aside even when the boredom was driving me mad.
I wish she had put her beautiful writing and as beautiful journey into a better structured narrative
-Will not unhaul because eventhough i dont think i will ever read it again,id like to think of it sometimes-

Orilium spring equinox

[Dora · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to enjoy this book but sadly I didn’t. To compare it to Lorna Sage’s book “Bad Blood” is totally wrong because this is not a patch on Lorna Sage. It didn’t hold my interest and I had to force myself to keep reading to the end. I literally finished it, laid it down and reached for the next book on my stash.

It was patchy, flitted about too much, I never really felt any connection with her parents and every so often she used a word that I had never heard of so I had to stop and look it up.

I remember reading that one of her teachers said although Swan’s father was a writer, she would never be one and I tend to agree with her actually.

[Ian Burdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this quickly on Kindle and immediately bought a physical copy. It is beautifully written and gripping from start to finish.

I came at this on the back of reading (and enjoying) Kay Dick's 'The Shelf', curious to know more of the actual story behind that book. Statues Without Shadows gave me the background and so much more.

[Nikhita Parihar · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 🌟

[Kelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not sure why I kept reading this as it didn't really grab me. I found it slow, rambling and disjointed.

[Pam Doyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

About authors research into her mum and dad. Both writers with some celebrity connections.



Both committed suicide. Don’t know why they did what they did. Feel for the author who is more well adjusted than I would be.

Found out about Hyde in Manchester. And Petra.

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring didn't finish the book